Fecoprevalence and determinants of Helicobacter pylori infection among asymptomatic children in Lebanon.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Helicobacter pylori plays a major etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. However, most of the infected subjects remain asymptomatic. The aim of this study is to establish fecoprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in a convenient non-probabilistic sample of asymptomatic Lebanese children.

METHODS

Four-hundred fourteen children aged between one month and 17 years of different socioeconomic standards were selected for Helicobacter pylori antigen testing in stool. Demographic characteristics, health and nutritional status were obtained through a questionnaire.

RESULTS

Fecoprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was 0.21 of whom 28.7% were between 0-3 years, 34.5% between 4-9 years and 36.8% between 10-17 years. Seventy-five (86.2%) of the fecopositive children were from low socioeconomic standards and 12 (13.8%) were from middle to high socioeconomic standards (p < 0.0001). Environmental variables demonstrated higher frequency of fecopositivity in children living in overcrowded houses, lower family income and poor parental education (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Helicobacter pylori is prevalent in asymptomatic Lebanese children. Prevention is worthy by improving the levels of education and the standards of hygiene.